New A. Breezy Video

This just in from the Soundvizion crew...a brand new video for "We Like That" from A. Breezy.

Daniel Aliff - Lightwork (Deluxe Edition)

Beckley's D. Aliff has been grinding hard in the studio...he recently re-released his "Light Work" Mixtape with a few previously un-included songs. Much wordplay and underground flavor on this one...download it for free here!

TSM Records - Straight Outta Motown

These guys were recently brought to my attention via J Money Bag$, CEO of TSM records. I checked out some of their tracks, and I was pleasantly surprised...a few different styles are showcased in the 25 tracks you can check out for free here ! From more poppy club bangers to grittier, classically East-Coast sounding joints, there's a little something for everyone.

MORE Check Game

Another leak from Paycheck Game...dude is going crazy with the new material for a soon-to-be retired MC!

Shoot-for-the-stars by Paycheck Game

BREAKING NEWS...95 RETIRES

As most of you know, I (L-NO) have been working on providing content for Live From The Dub with 95 for a little over 6 months now. Today, I've been called upon to bring some sad news to the LFTD nation. Chris Kessell, better known as 95, Mr. G-Mode, IRUNSHIT and more, has decided to hang it up as producer/promoter/etc. I've known Chris since about 2002, and it saddens me to know that along with Paycheck Game (pictured with 95 above), WV is losing 2 of it's greatest legends to retirement. I'm glad to know however, that Chris is blessed with a wonderful wife, Monica, and three beautiful children. He'll be focusing on them as well as whatever new endeavors come his way in the future...but you know this guy is WV hip hop for life! Here's a statement from the man himself:

Sitting here looking out the window at this rain/snow slushy mix of grey wintery weather sets the perfect stage for what I’ve been thinking of for a while. I know I’m not a superstar where anybody other than my friends and family actually care about my decision… but I just wanted to put it to words for myself. I am retiring from the local music scene in all of my various jobs. Website owner, promoter, producer, song writer, blogger, DJ, music reviewer and advice giver… there I said it.

When music has been such a big portion of what you’ve done, dreamed about and for the good and bad become known for by your extended circle of friends and associates it is hard to quit. Every day there is a call or a message about this or that. It is easy to keep being sucked back in… wanting to post something on LFTD or comment on something or try to make this collaboration happen. But if you are not going to be 100% behind your product and putting your all into it why do it at all? You are doing a disservice to those who look at, listen to and read the product. That is where I sit at today… without the heart to continue in the only way I know how. Full speed ahead.

Big Meuwl… His loss no doubt has been a catalyst in this decision. I will admit that it has been hard to get over and I’ve spent many a day at work and hours while driving here and there listening to music we did together on repeat. The whole time spent rerunning the memories of not only what really was some of my personally favorite creative moments, but the friendship that we shared and the circle of friends that was built during that time. Even though I was never “officially” DayOne, those guys are all my family…

I just want to publically say thank you to everybody who has helped me along the way. From DJ Agony and DJ Press who let me carry crates and pass out flyers to cut my teeth in the “business” to Billy Plat and David C. Bennett aka Rebels of Ruckus who showed me you could makes beats without owning a SP1200 and even rapping over those terrible beats I made back then. There have been so many guys who I’ve become close friends with through music that it is hard to separate that portion of my life from who I actually am and the life that I live.

My brother Charlie Blac, CYN, Woody, Fields, Addison, Jus… G Mode. What fun times those were. Making money, doing music, setting around and philosophizing with the best of ‘em and who could forget the parties… the city ON SMASH like nobody before and nobody since. More good, no make that GREAT memories and friendships.

It would be impossible to sit here and thank everybody else all by name, relive every memory without forgetting somebody or something (or spending 30 pages). I am not going to even try to name the rest. You all know who you are. I just want to give these people a sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart for playing such an integral role in helping me accomplish the things that I’ve done so far in life, and helping to set the stage for what I am going to do in the future. Today is the first day of accomplishing something big in something else.

There is one job I will never retire from though… and that is of FAN. Artists, keep making us proud.

Finally, Live From The Dub will carry on. I will now be running the show solo for the time being, and I have some ideas about new ways to continue bringing you the best in West Virginia hip hop news. Let me say from all of us in The Dub, Thanks to 95 for all the great music, hard work and dedication in elevating our scene to the place where it is today!

Northern Lights ft Krayzie Bone "I Love My Haters"

Huntington's favorite smoke friendly outfit, Northern Lights, is at it again with this collab with Krayzie Bone...check it out!

Northern Lights The Green Team ft Krayzie Bone- I Love My Haters by NorthLights The GreenTeam

Q&A With Lip Beats

Of all the new producers coming out of West Virginia, the one that has really stood out in my opinion is none other than Lip Beats. After breaking out with the 6’6 240 track “Welcome to Huggstown,” Lip has gone on to work with Paycheck Game and R.O.B amongst others. He’s putting in major work this year, and I had a chance to holler at him this week to give The Dub a sneak peek at what he’s up to…

L-NO: First off, I know you play a lot of instruments live on your beats. How long have you been a musician; what instruments did you start with, and when did you start incorporating that into hip hop production?

Lip Beats: I got my first guitar when I was about 13-14 years old. So it’s getting close to 17-18yrs now. I jammed with different guys I went to school with here and there; high school talent show crap but never really got into an actual band and gigged until I was around 20. I really enjoyed playing back then but never really loved “being in a band.” No one seemed to have the same work ethic. There would be plans to meet at 7:00, and everyone would roll in at 7:30-7:45. When I was already there, tuned up, ready to go 15 minutes early. I’m also more of a loner then a social butterfly. That’s what got me into trying to produce my own drum work and using sequencers. It was failed attempt to make a rock/blues album on my own, that lead to a 10 year stretch of making hip-hop music. Once I got into the synth and strings and piano tones, the guitar started to take more of a back seat, and became more of a tool for song composition, rather than composing for the sake of playing guitar if that makes any sense. I didn’t really get back to trying to add more live guitar and bass until probably 2 yrs ago.

L-NO: What instrument do you think you’re the strongest with?

Lip Beats: I would have to say guitar because of all the years of experience with it, although I’ve been getting more compliments about my basslines lately than anything. But I personally think I need another year before I really start calling myself a ‘bass player’.

L-NO: Did you ever play in any local rock bands or anything prior to doing the hip hop thing?

Lip Beats: Yeah, I played guitar in a shitty R&B boy band for awhile when I lived in Canton, Ohio. It was funny stuff. 3 singers, with their dance moves, the whole 9 yards. But we gigged a lot and I think it was a good overall experience. Only band I was ever with that played in front of a few hundred people. I had another friend while I lived in OH named Matt Francis, and we played a lot of blues music together. Going to a few different bars and jamming with the local blues players. Then I did a bit of studio work in Akron for a few groups here and there as a sit-in guitar player. I had one short lived attempt while here in Charleston about maybe 4-5 yrs ago but we only played 1 gig at the Blue Parrot before it just fizzled.

L-NO: Who are some of the producers that inspired you to start making beats?

Lip Beats: Well, no one really at first, because I was trying to make blues and rock music. I kinda fell into making beats because a friend of mine came over to my apartment around 1999-2000 and heard some of my music and just started rapping over it. So even though I was making what most would consider ‘hip-hop music’ it wasn’t really the initial intention. But some of the first hip-hop I really remember that I was like ‘wow what is that?’ was probably the Beastie Boys” License to Ill” album and Dre’s “The Chronic” album. For years I didn’t play with samples, but when I got a copy of Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek’s “Reflection Eterna”l I started looking more into samples. That’s when I started to later respect people like DJ-Hi-Tek, J-Dilla, DJ Premier and 9^th wonder.

L-NO: You’ve worked with both some of The Dub’s most respected artists (ex -Paycheck Game) and also with some new up and coming artists (ex- R.O.B.) How did you get hooked up with some of the artists you’ve been producing for?

Lip Beats: I asked, and said “pretty please with sugar on top.” A hot beat helps as well. Really, I owe a lot to DJ Monstalung. He heard some of the first tracks I released on WVRAPSCENE.COM, trying to find some artists to work with and immediately asked if I would start sending some to him for use with some artists on the SoundVision label. But I think the big one that got me noticed a bit was the sample flip I did of the WVU marching band that ended up being “Welcome to Huggstown.” That lead to being asked to submit tracks for 6’6 240’s new album (still due to be released). While doing those tracks I started making some that didn’t really fit the mold what SV was trying to achieve for 6’6’s new album, so the good ones I sent and asked if Paycheck would like them.

As far as R.O.B., he downloaded a few tracks off my website that I had on there for free and I absolutely loved what he did with them. Wasn’t the normal, ‘hey I’m a gangster’ flow and I could tell he really had the writing skills and a good tone of voice for it. So I started sending him tracks soon after that. He is sitting on some bangers right now that no one has heard, and I can’t wait to hear what happens.

L-NO: I think you recorded the most lopsided victory in MonstaLung’s latest series of beat battles. How do you feel about beat battles in general?

Lip Beats: I have a love/hate relationship with beat battles. I’m old school ‘music shouldn’t be a competition’ kinda guy, but at the same time when you would really love to get paid to make beats, you have to step outside your comfort zone a bit to make a name for yourself. Sometimes a YouTube channel and a website isn’t enough for people to take notice, and when Monstalung hosts anything you’re going to get a bit more exposure to people you might not have been able to reach. I’m more of a fan of ‘beat cyphers’ where a group of producers flip the same sample. This way, if people want to debate who was better then who, then they can, but you also get to learn something. You get to hear what part someone took verse what part you sampled and how they used it. It’s a different way to peak into the mind of another producer, and much more effective for actually learning something rather than “you post 5 hot beats and ill post 5 hot beats and we will see what everyone happens to like today.” I could do 5 really super hot slow, groovy jams and get my ass handed to me because my competitor did 5 “ok” club bangers. So I don’t pay attention to the results maybe as much as some others may, but it’s still fun.

L-NO: How would you describe your production style to those who haven’t heard it?

Lip Beats: Random. Most people have heard my sample flip skills, but I think as the year progresses they will start to see a lot more diversity in my production. Non-sampled bangers, pop jams…I have a guy right now that wants to pay me to do a few techno/dub step tracks.

L-NO: What makes a good sample to you, and where do you find most of your samples?

Lip Beats: I get almost all of my records from Budget Tapes and Records in Kanawha City. And probably 90% of my samples come off of vinyl that I bought there, although I will snatch some off YouTube from time to time. When I’m listening for samples I’m usually looking for 3 main things. 1. Tone. Do I think the overall feel of the combined instruments sound good? 2. Chord or note changes. The more the better cause it gives you more freedom to really screw with the sample naturally instead of pitch shifting it to get more options. 3. I like it when it’s not so busy. Any fast songs with lots and lots of busy hi-hats and percussion I usually stay away from.

L-NO: We’ve talked about this a bit before, but for the other production geeks out there, tell us about your setup.

Lip Beats: I have a cheap ass Casio keyboard that is used only as a midi controller. I’ve had this for over 10 years and its probably getting replaced this year with a M-Audio 88 key controller. I have an M-Audio Trigger Finger and a Novation Remote Zero. It’s mostly for the transport control features. Much easier to use if then the P.C. keyboard when you have a guitar of bass in your hands. I have a Stanton turntable with a Numark mixer for getting my samples off vinyl. Everything runs into an MBox2 running ProTools 7 LE.
Reason 3 and FL Studio 9 are the backbone of all the beats. And I chop my samples in Recycle 2. Then there is a huge list of plug-ins for effects and VST instruments. My latest big purchase was Native Instruments Komplete 7. Another important feature is Guinness beer and Johnny Walker black label scotch, both of which I fully endorse.

L-NO: Before we wrap it up here, what projects do you have in the works for 2011?

Lip Beats: Well, we’re still waiting on 6’6 240’s album to drop which should be this year sometime. R.O.B. probably has almost enough beats to make another album. White Mic has a couple he is sitting on. I did one for Brain Trauma, and a lot of beats for D. Alliff, Ray-P and others that should see the light of day sometime this year. Also working hard on some beats for Paycheck Game, and I recently got back in touch with and old Detroit connection which may lead to work with groups in various other states. Also have a few random people from YouTube that are looking for beats from Indiana and NY. So I have a lot on my plate for this year.

ANOTHER Check Game leak???

The big homie is back with yet another leak from his upcoming album "Street Value 2". This one's produced by DJ Coutz and is called "Ride All Day". Peep it suckas!

Ride-all-day by Paycheck Game

New A/Slash

I just got this track sent to me by A/Slash, formerly known as A/C. If you're in Morgantown you probably remember him from the tons of shows he did with Meuwl and the Dayone gang at Corner Cafe and 123 Pleasant St. He's still doing work and here's a new track called "I Want Love" from his album "All Expenses Paid". You can find out more about A/Slash and his crew at www.tnu304.com. You can check out the track here

State of the State with L-NO! 2011 edition

What's good Dub V? It's officially 2011, so I figured it was time for a little "State of the State" action. I wrapped up 2010 with a week long trip back to Chuck City for Turkey Day and got a few things accomplished while I was there. First thing on the agenda was to finally hook up my Funk Monster tat (see above), which I did courtesy of fellow Blunt Bro Ozker at Bent Shraeder Tattoos in South Charleston. If you're in the Chuck and looking for ink, look no further than OZ. He's hands down one of the best in the area...look for a possible article/interview with him about Graffiti and Tattooing sometime soon. Also while I was in town I had a chance to make the trek to Fayettenam with Mr. B. Rude to pay a visit to The Yetti and check out some of the new album. All I will tell you is that its BONKERS...no bullshit. Those guys are really onto something special, and I'm positive the album will exceed the hype surrounding it. We also rocked a show at The Empty Glass with The Concept amongst other guests, and from what I'm hearing, Dinosaur Burps killed the X-Mas eve bash there as well. Judging from the photos I've seen, the Glass has never looked more full (no pun intended!)

In other news, Paycheck Game finally released his street album entitled "Steet Value" to such rave reviews that "Street Value 2" is already in the works! We're still waiting on "Autobiography of the Guillotine," and from what I'm hearing it will be well worth the wait. I talked to Check on the phone the other day and he also confirmed that he will be returning to Dub V in the next few months to do a final round of shows in the city where it all started (Morgantown, if you're a noob or otherwise out of the loop)...keep your eyes peeled to Live From The Dub for more updates once everything is confirmed!

Also happening in The Dub..DJ Coutz just dropped his latest "Secret Stash" mixtape, you can find a download link for here both here and on our friends at wvrapscene.com as well. You can also find new tracks every week on wvrapscene.com from the likes of Beckley's own Hand of God aka Daniel Aliff, White Mic, TRG and others, as well as other entertaining message board shenanigans.

Finally....if you haven't checked out Huntington's R.O.B's debut effort "Headphone Music", do so immediately! It's definitely one of the strongest WV debut's in quite some time and features production from Lip Beats, 95 and more! Speaking of Lip Beats, check back VERY soon for an interview with one of the hottest new producers in WV. Also, go cop Redshift/Blueshift from Profit Money if you haven't already, or he may yell at me, haha!

Stay tuned to Live From The Dub for all the latest breaking news, music, videos and more from the best in WV...we're going to be doing big things in 2011!

Yoller at your boy,

L-NO!

New D-Why single..."Crazy World" Produced by Johnny Juliano

Fresh off of D's Facebook page, here's his newest single. He hooked up with Johnny Juliano again, and here's what you get!

C Thug - Pussy Niggas [DHGW Video]

Paycheck Game Leaks

In anticipation of "Street Value 2", Check has been dropping some jewels to tide us over!

Let-me-fly by Paycheck Game

Come-back by Paycheck Game

Light-it-up by Paycheck Game

AC & Dell "Right Now"

This is a video from NYC's own AC and Dell. AC is from Clarksburg and in addition to being an old friend of mine, is also a well accomplished DJ. Usually spinning electronica of the happy hardcore variety, he's toured the world and this is his first foray into hip-hop. He produced the album which you can download here http://djacslater.com/acanddell/AC_&_Dell_-_Right_Now.zip Enjoy and spread the awesome!

DJ Coutz "The Secret Stash" 2010 DL link

DJ Coutz is back on the grind with a new mixtape...here's a download link, provided by Coutz and our good friends at wvrapscene.com. Check it out!

http://www.datpiff.com/DJ_Coutz_DJ_CoutzVarious_Artists_The_Secret_Stas.m183460.html

D-Why "Devil Horns to All" (Black & Yellow Remix)

A few weeks late on the post...here's the video for D-Why's "Devil Horns to All." You've heard the track, now here are some D-swagger filled images to go along with it!

Jon Jon ft Scolo Dolo "HNIC"

Here's the first video from Kayoh/808 Army's new artist Jon Jon...he's only 16 but on the rise.

Charleston's Gotta Problem - The White Mic Interview

Charleston’s White Mic hit the scene around 2008 with a big debut video, Charleston’s Gotta Problem. Since then, he’s been dropping lots of new material, getting in beefs, squashing beefs, forming new groups and more. It’s safe to say he’s one of the Charleston Hip-Hop scene’s hardest workers, and he hopes to illustrate that fact with a slew of new projects in 2010-11. I had a chat with Mic this week and here’s how it went--

L-NO: It seems like you’re grinding pretty hard right now. Can you tell us a little about White Mic Wednesdays on wvrapscene.com? Have you been getting much feedback from dropping a track a week?

White Mic: Bro to be honest with you I’m ADHD like a motherfucker, so I just picked up a lil side hustle to feed my fans and supporters. Some rappers in this state; remember I said SOME, drop mixtapes every 3 to 6 months at best. So I drop mixtapes, freestyles, weekly exclusives and a group mixtape in that same time. Fans fuck with you for that shit. You wouldn’t believe the people I’ve met that have heard of me through these WVrapscene YouTubes. If you grind the people will see and in return show respect.

L-NO: What’s going on with the Click Clack Boyz? Do you guys have any new material on the way?

White Mic: Mack and I work together 6 days a week. No lie, so the chemistry is something special that we can drop a dope song while jus chillin doin our everyday thing. Right now Franchise Hustlers Vol. 1 is doing very good. It being Mack’s first mixtape release, I think he nailed it and we found something you can’t stop from happening. That’s actually how we came up with the group’s name Click Clack Boyz. All Ima say is early 2011 will solidify our spot with the elite of West Virginia.

L-NO: How about solo projects? Can we expect a full length White Mic album coming anytime soon?

White Mic: You already know brah! “I’m So Industry” just leaked for free download on Livefromthedub.com. That's the mixtape series Ima do from now on all industry beats that were hot in that 6 month period, along with original mixtapes and Click Clack mixtapes. I really don’t believe in what people call “albums” these days I just call it all “material,” haha.

L-NO: Your buzz really started generating when you dropped the “Charleston’s Gotta Problem” video. Are you making any videos now or planning to?

White Mic: Touchy subject haha. Nah, I recorded a video awhile back with “what’s his name” and I’m still sitting on it. I wanna disconnect myself from the old me completely and I say old me meaning circa August 2010. I’ve also talked to DHGW he’s doing some really good editing right now, probably the best so you might be seeing something soon from us.

L-NO: I’ve noticed in a few places you’ve bragged a bit about the quality of your gear/style. What’s your favorite sneaker and do you put more emphasis on one aspect of an outfit or the look as a whole?

White Mic: What can I say bro Ima fuckin stylist haha! To tell the truth since I was young I’ve had a thing for fashion. I remember getting voted best dressed in elementary wayyyy back haha! As far as kicks, I’m really obsessed with the Jordan’s I had as a kid. I have around 20 Jordan 1’s. Other than them, I just grab the most exclusive J’s. I go as far as prepaying for shoes, because they won’t even hit the selves. Most recently (as an example), “the cool grays” are very rare! But yeah, my style is all about head to toe. Head toe is what I like to call complete. When you wake up in the morning you have to start the process; gyms, tan, shave, shower. Clothes have to be ironed, shoes have to be clean everything has to match…complete. Anything less is half assed.

L-NO: Are you affiliated with a label/crew right now? I felt I saw you mention something about Holla Boy being no more?

White Mic: White Mic is affiliated with everybody! I got nothing but love for everybody; it’s like a bad break up with a chick. I’m really happy I’m single again haha! I have sides that know where I stand, and know what I bring to the table. I got good people in my corner right now. Ima leave it at that.

L-NO: You’ve never been one to shy away from beef. Are you beefing with anyone right now, or chilling on the diss tracks at the moment?

White Mic: As my ol lady likes to put it, I have no filter with my words. I feel it’s a good thing if I feel any sort of way you will know it, so don’t ever worry bout what’s on my mind or actually how I feel haha! But for the moment, I have no beef believe it or not. I’ve made good with most my enemies, although I’d like to smack Huey Mack if anybody gives fuck.

L-NO: Are you doing shows at all or just staying in the studio?

White Mic: I haven’t been doing as many shows as I’d like, but I’ve been through some ups and downs over these past couple months in this rap shit. So I’ve been playin’ chess instead of checkers and figuring out my next move. So yeah in the mean time I’ve been recording A LOT.

L-NO: Who would you say are your favorite fellow WV MC’s or producers? Who would you like to collaborate with that you haven’t gotten a chance to?

White Mic: Everybody knows the late great Meuwl was/is the best; and with that he taught my 2^nd favorite, my brother D-Why!, Mack Menace is my dude, 6’6, Ray-P,T Bates, my people Stupyd Fresh, Mtp, Dman and them. Tygas nice, Cookie Head, hold ya head up brah, A Breezy. I like Breezy’s voice brah I think we could make good music together. I don’t know man there’s a lot too many to name really!

L-NO: I see you on wvrapscene.com hustling champagne, clothes, just about everything. Is there no end to your hustle?

White Mic: You see me out there bro! Haha I do what I do, I’m like them Pawn Stars guys. If it’s worth something, Ima cop it and make something back. And on that note, I have a size 9 and a size 10 in the cool grays 300 each haha just sayin’.

L-NO: Anyone you want to shout out?

White Mic: Everybody that I would shout out knows I got em’ and what it is! Fam